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May 25, 2016, Chicago – Living City Magazine, a publication of the Focolare Movement at Mariapolis Luminosa, Hyde Park, New York, received first prize for an interview and third prize for general excellence during the 2016 of the Associated Church Press (ACP), held in Chicago last month.

Living City Magazine, published 11 times per year, focuses on dialogue, culture, and faith, including “profiles and interviews with people who are making a difference in the fields of education, medicine, the environment, politics, economics, art, science, as well as the family and faith communities.”

“We have received honors from Catholic sources in the past,” said Sister Margaret Karam, OP, associate editor of the publication. “However, this is the first time [we have received awards] from such a prestigious ecumenical source.”

Each year, the ACP recognizes the best work of faith communicators with their Best of the Church Press Awards. Begun in 1916, the ACP is a “professional organization brought together by a common commitment to excellence in journalism as a means to describe, reflect, and support the life of faith and the Christian community.”

Since her retirement, Sister Margaret has lived in Mariapolis Lumonisa, one of 32 “little cities” established throughout the world by the Focolare Movement, an ecclesiastical, Catholic movement begun in Italy in 1943 to focus on Jesus’ call to unity. “Focolare returns Sisters to their orders, better Benedictines, Franciscans, Charities, and so on,” Sister Margaret explained in an earlier interview. “The spirituality of Focolare and living in unity has made me a better Dominican.”

May 25, 2016, Miami Shores, Florida – During this 2015-2016 academic year, Adrian Dominican Sisters and Associates helped Barry University to celebrate its 75th-anniversary year with a special formation program for lay faculty and staff who were considering becoming Associates of the Congregation. The year concluded on May 24 with a special retreat. 

Associates are women and men, at least 18 years of age, who share in the mission and ministry of the Adrian Dominican Sisters and make a formal, non-vowed commitment to the Congregation. While maintaining their own lifestyle, they participate in the life of the Congregation and participate in a variety of spiritual, social, and ministerial experiences. 

During Founders’ Week of Barry’s anniversary year, Adrian Dominicans from the Florida Chapter gave a presentation on the Congregation’s Associate Life program during a November 11 luncheon meeting. 

Mary Lach, Director of Associate Life and herself an Associate, was one of the presenters in November. “Members of the Barry community expressed much interest in the Dominican charism and what it means to join Associate Life,” she wrote in a recent e-newsletter sent to Sisters and Associates. She expressed gratitude to Dr. Roxanne Davies, Associate Vice President for Mission and Institutional Effectiveness at Barry, for her involvement in the formation program, along with Sister Mary Frances Fleischaker, OP, who helped to organize the formation sessions.

Along with Sister Mary Fran, the following offered presentations: Sisters Mary Tindel, Margaret Exworthy, Margot Ruiz, Fran Madigan, and Evelyn Piche.